We live, learn, work, grow food, extract resources, build cities and garden on the traditional land of Indigenous Peoples.

 

I want to recognize the enduring presence of Indigenous Peoples on this land and the historical and continued oppression of lands and cultures. It is a great privilege for me to live on Turtle Island, and I want to be very clear that we all profit from millennia of hard work and wisdom with which Indigenous Peoples have transformed this continent into a fertile and abundant land while keeping it clean and pristine.

 

I want to point out that Indigenous Peoples are still knowledge keepers of this incredible mastery through their deep connection to the land and that Western Society and Science must start highly valuing and listening to Indigenous voices and stories to respect and honour Indigenous cultures and for the good of humanity to help find solutions to biodiversity loss and climate change.

 

I live in Toronto. The Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River regions were areas that were diverse and densely populated by many nations, including the Anishnaabe meaning "Original People", the Haudenosaunee, "People of the Longhouse", the Mississaugas of the Credit, "People of the River of the north of many mouths", and the Wendat, "People of the Island". At least 700 years ago, the Anishnabee and Haudenosaunee confederacies made a legal agreement, a wampum, beautifully called "the dish with one spoon," to keep peace, therefore no knife, and to take care of the land. This entails taking only what you need, keeping the environment clean and leaving some for the future. The dish with one spoon is a powerful metaphor and teaching that invites us to reflect on all aspects of life and politics. Over time, subsequent Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers, have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship and respect.

 

So, how can we reciprocate? In our gardening context, it means putting native plants back onto their land and using no-harm garden practices, regenerating lost biodiversity and life. It means rewilding the land that has been degraded as a consequence of our extractive Western mindset.

 

Since mindset is the root cause of human and planetary health decline, it is very important to be curious and open so we can rewild our own minds first. Then, we can be a good example and respectfully and patiently help those around us rewild their minds so that we, as a society, can move forward in a good way.

 

Clothing Mother Earth's skin with native plants again is one of the many needed acts of reconciliation. And that's why we are gardeners for wildlife. Let's plant more native plants!